Tuesday, February 27, 2007

So Monday night we had some of our neighbors over for dinner last night. So much fun...

This was the first time in almost 4 years of marriage Diana and I had our neighbors over for dinner (so much for doing what Jesus says - sorry for the bad example) - but we are committed to doing better at this...

Anyways the point of the story is not my "not following Jesus as well as I should." It is my new found "enjoyment of cooking." I asked one of our neighbors what her favorite food was and she told me fried chicken. So if you know me you know I have a tough time not doing something ALL out... I studied online for about an hour to find consistencies in popular "Southern Fired Chicken Recipes", went out and bought a brand new electric skillet, and 100% peanut oil. My goal was simple... for me to create the best fried chicken Jackie had ever eaten - hah (below are pictures from the evening)

For the chicken I used an egg wash batter with a little bit of secret seasonings for the breading and fried it in a 50% Crisco and 50% peanut oil mixture... The results were according to Jackie - heavenly... (Thats because she only had the wings - the legs were a bit under cooked - :) (note - thicker chicken pieces are take a bit longer to cook thoroughly)

Diana added to the meal by grilling some chicken and throwing together some greenbean casserole... I believe Bobbi-Jo was resposible for the amazing brownies we desserted on. (I am certain desserted is not a word - sorry Kim)

Also, Sunday night I cooked for Jeff and Bobbi-Jo (and Diana and I) some Scallops we bought from BJ's... I seared them in some live oil and a bit or garlic salt.... oh dangness.... these were in fact delightful...

Anyways, I just figured I would share my weekend culinery experience with all of you... it was quite nice to take a break from the honey nut cherios and honeycomb diet I have been on for the last 2 weeks... Diana would like to cook more but we've stayed pretty busy since the move (also cereal is a bit more inexpensive - yet another bonus of general mills - outside of their yummy goodness)

ok - so there was my re-entry to the blog world after a brief time of leave... dinner and hang out time with the neighbors was wonderful...

wishing you a wonderful week...

The breading... oh so important...

That is some good looking chicken...

That is a good lookin woman...

Would you say a plethora of food...

Jeff's daughter, Abigail, and Elijah (who is the son of our neighbors Lucky and Stephanie - which also makes Elijah our neighbor also)

Odanis (another son of Luck and Stephanie)

I just thought Abigail looked cute here...

The Hathaways crashed the party at the end of the night for some 24...